Online Reporter
Online Reporter
A dark cloud descended at Ona Farm in Guruve on Thursday as hundreds of villagers gathered to pay their last respects to members of the Zvitsva family butchered in a gruesome murder on Sunday.
The late Grace Zvitsva (66), her son Tendai Zvitsva (40), Loice Chiringaushe (37), and Loice’s two young children, Takudzwa Kariva (5) and Tatenda Chirenje (2), all faced their death in a spine-chilling incident that left the community shocked.
The five were buried at different sites in accordance with family arrangements.
Grace and Tendai were buried at their rural homestead, Loice and Tatenda interred at Chikwidibe Village in Guruve, while Takudzwa was laid to rest in Murehwa.
The killings were executed by a family relative, Anymore Zvitsva following previous disputes.
Mr Never Gwaze, a familiy spokesperson, said threats on the family started during a traditional ceremony.
Grace had travelled to her rural home in Vheremu Village to perform a Shona cultural ritual known as kuendesa mombe yeumai, the payment of a beast to one’s mother.
“It was around midnight when Anymore and a group of people descended on the homestead in Vheremu village,” said Mr Gwaze.
“They tied all the doors from outside using wire. My young brother, Marvelous Kwaipa, tried to force his way out and was struck with an axe on the hand.”
He said desperate calls for help went unanswered.
“We called out to Grace, but her door had also been tied from the outside. We fled to the village head seeking refuge, but even he was too frightened to come outside.”
According to the family, tensions had been simmering for some time.
Mr Gwaze said Anymore was once identified by Grace during a citizen’s arrest at Nyatsanza mountain, an incident that deeply angered him.
“He also blamed Grace for having him exposed after he was caught stealing maize. From that day, he vowed to revenge,” Mr Gwaze said.
